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Teams honor fallen swimmer

Brookside Swim Club swimmers and others attending the 2013 Davidson County Aquatics Association Championship on Friday have a moment of silence to honor Brookside swimmer Lauren Cecil, who died from electrocution during swim practice last Tuesday night.

Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch

BY MIKE DUPREZThe Dispatch

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 11:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 11:56 p.m.

DENTON | Tragedy struck the Davidson County swimming community on Tuesday when 11-year-old Lauren Cecil was electrocuted and died during an incident at the Brookside pool.

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The Central Davidson Class of 1992 has established the Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund in memory of Lauren's life and love. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to 7182 N.C. Highway 8, Lexington, NC 27292 or delivered to any NewBridge Bank branch. Make checks payable to Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund and include an email address in the notes section. Send questions or comments to LaurensFund@gmail.com.

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On Friday, the Davidson County Aquatics Association teams did their best to deal with their collective sadness and put on the first day of their annual summer championship meet at the Denton Swim Club.

"It was really sad," said Madison Tussey, who was Cecil's teammate at Brookside. "I mean, it was really unexpected. I just tried to dedicate all my swims to her. I tried to win for her."

Tussey won three events.

Many of the swimmers from all the teams had written dedications across their backs. There was also a moment of silence before the competition commenced Friday afternoon.

"We know it's sad but we knew we still had a meet to swim and that's the way she would have wanted it," said Arcadia swimmer/coach Sam Day. "So that's what we were doing."

Postponement or even cancellation were options being considered before the decision was made to move forward with the meet.

"That was what Lauren's parents actually asked us to do," said meet referee Leann Day. "The Cecils were asked, 'do you think we should delay or cancel the meet. Or what would you think Lauren would want us to do.' They both said absolutely, 'we want you all to go ahead and proceed with the meet.' They even called and made a statement during the meet thanking everybody for their support during the week, thanking everybody for the prayers, the well-wishes and considering the gravity of the situation, I thought it was amazing that they would take time to do that, to let us know that they supported what we were trying to do for their daughter's memory."

It was a tragic event that nobody could have expected three days before the county meet or at any time.

"Absolutely," Day said. "It was a freak accident. It was one of those things that you can't prepare for how to handle. I think it showed the strength of the community how everyone came together to honor her and to swim in her honor.

"All these kids, really, they put on a great show for everybody. And they did it in the memory and honor of one of their teammates. Swimming is a pretty tight community and that's true even for the kids that didn't know her personally. She was a swimmer and was one of their own. So I feel like in general we came together and did the best we could considering the tragedy and how it happened."

That respect carried throughout the teams.

"It was really tragic and unexpected," said Arcadia swimmer John Day. "It was very unexpected. There was really no way to prepare for this. It was really crazy how well we were able to prepare for it as recent as it was with the moment of silence, the caps and all that. I thought that was really cool that we were able to all come together and work to do all that."

Brookside was in second place at the end of the day on Friday, the first day of the two-day meet.

"I feel like all the swimmers came together in spirit," said Brookside swimmer/coach Marina Moore. I feel like the whole team came together."

The Central Davidson Class of 1992 has established the Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund, in memory of Lauren's life and love. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to 7182 N.C. Highway 8, Lexington, NC 27292 or delivered to any NewBridge Bank branch. Make checks payable to Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund and include an email address in the notes section. Send questions or comments to LaurensFund@gmail.com

Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.

<p>DENTON | Tragedy struck the Davidson County swimming community on Tuesday when 11-year-old Lauren Cecil was electrocuted and died during an incident at the Brookside pool.</p><p>On Friday, the Davidson County Aquatics Association teams did their best to deal with their collective sadness and put on the first day of their annual summer championship meet at the Denton Swim Club.</p><p>"It was really sad," said Madison Tussey, who was Cecil's teammate at Brookside. "I mean, it was really unexpected. I just tried to dedicate all my swims to her. I tried to win for her."</p><p>Tussey won three events.</p><p>Many of the swimmers from all the teams had written dedications across their backs. There was also a moment of silence before the competition commenced Friday afternoon.</p><p>"We know it's sad but we knew we still had a meet to swim and that's the way she would have wanted it," said Arcadia swimmer/coach Sam Day. "So that's what we were doing."</p><p>Postponement or even cancellation were options being considered before the decision was made to move forward with the meet.</p><p>"That was what Lauren's parents actually asked us to do," said meet referee Leann Day. "The Cecils were asked, 'do you think we should delay or cancel the meet. Or what would you think Lauren would want us to do.' They both said absolutely, 'we want you all to go ahead and proceed with the meet.' They even called and made a statement during the meet thanking everybody for their support during the week, thanking everybody for the prayers, the well-wishes and considering the gravity of the situation, I thought it was amazing that they would take time to do that, to let us know that they supported what we were trying to do for their daughter's memory."</p><p>It was a tragic event that nobody could have expected three days before the county meet or at any time.</p><p>"Absolutely," Day said. "It was a freak accident. It was one of those things that you can't prepare for how to handle. I think it showed the strength of the community how everyone came together to honor her and to swim in her honor.</p><p>"All these kids, really, they put on a great show for everybody. And they did it in the memory and honor of one of their teammates. Swimming is a pretty tight community and that's true even for the kids that didn't know her personally. She was a swimmer and was one of their own. So I feel like in general we came together and did the best we could considering the tragedy and how it happened."</p><p>That respect carried throughout the teams.</p><p>"It was really tragic and unexpected," said Arcadia swimmer John Day. "It was very unexpected. There was really no way to prepare for this. It was really crazy how well we were able to prepare for it as recent as it was with the moment of silence, the caps and all that. I thought that was really cool that we were able to all come together and work to do all that."</p><p>Brookside was in second place at the end of the day on Friday, the first day of the two-day meet.</p><p>"I feel like all the swimmers came together in spirit," said Brookside swimmer/coach Marina Moore. I feel like the whole team came together."</p><p>The Central Davidson Class of 1992 has established the Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund, in memory of Lauren's life and love. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to 7182 N.C. Highway 8, Lexington, NC 27292 or delivered to any NewBridge Bank branch. Make checks payable to Lauren Cecil Scholarship Fund and include an email address in the notes section. Send questions or comments to LaurensFund@gmail.com</p><p>Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.</p>